Do you recognize the tale at the back of Pandora’s field, or the variation among Hercules and Heracles? flip to this alphabetic encyclopedia, with greater than 540 entries detailing all of the significant and minor characters, occasions, and settings of Greek mythology, from an advent to the nymph Acantha to a succinct characterization of Zeus, the omnipotent ruler of the gods. This useful reference covers every kind of heroes, gods, demigods, creatures, demons, and extraordinary mortals, with their vintage tales retold in riveting summaries. This finished consultant brings Greek mythology to lifestyles, and features a beneficial pronunciation key.

Newly up to date and accelerated with the author’s most well liked text. A sleek masterpiece from the multiple-award-winning grasp of cutting edge fiction, Neil Gaiman. First released in 2001, American Gods grew to become an rapid vintage, lauded for its superb synthesis of “mystery, satire, intercourse, horror, and poetic prose” (Washington put up) and as a contemporary phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of the United States” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).

In response to the legends utilized in Greek drama, Seneca's performs are outstanding for the exuberant ruthlessness with which disastrous occasions are foretold after which pursued to their tragic and sometimes bloodthirsty ends. Thyestes depicts the threat of an ancestral curse placing over feuding brothers, whereas Phaedra portrays a girl stricken by deadly ardour for her stepson.

First written down within the 8th century advert, those early Irish tales depict a miles older world—part delusion, half legend and half heritage. wealthy with magic and achingly attractive, they communicate of a land of heroic battles, extreme love and warrior beliefs, during which the otherworld is explored and males mingle freely with the gods.

Written in Iceland a century after the shut of the Viking Age, The Prose Edda is the resource of so much of what we all know of Norse mythology. Its stories are peopled via giants, dwarves, and elves, superhuman heroes and indomitable warrior queens. Its gods stay with the tragic wisdom in their personal drawing close destruction within the cataclysmic conflict of Ragnarok.

Additional info for Gods, Demigods and Demons: An Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology

They have been dulled, brutish, talking to one another in grunts. Prometheus went to Zeus and acknowledged: “Why, oh Thunderer, do you retain the race of guy in lack of expertise and darkness? ” “What you name lack of information is innocence,” acknowledged Zeus. “What you name darkness is the shadow of my decree. guy is excited now, and should stay chuffed until eventually anyone persuades him he's unsatisfied. don't meddle extra with my designs. ” “I comprehend that every little thing you do is wise,” stated Prometheus. “Enlighten me along with your knowledge. inform me why you refuse guy the present of fireplace? ” “Because hidden in guy is a satisfaction that could smash us. provide him the good servant known as fireplace, and he'll try and make himself as strong because the gods. Why, he may hurricane Olympus. cross now and hassle me no additional. ” yet Prometheus was once nonetheless no longer happy. the following morning he stood tiptoe at the mountaintop and stole a few hearth from the dawn. He concealed the spark in a hole reed, then went right down to earth. Zeus having a look down later couldn't think what he observed. every thing used to be replaced. guy had pop out of his cave. Zeus observed huts, farmhouses, walled cities, a fortress. He observed males cooking their nutrients, wearing torches to mild their means at evening. Forges blazed; males have been beating out ploughs, keels, swords, spears. They have been elevating white wings of sails and bold to exploit the fury of the winds for his or her voyages. They have been donning helmets, driving out in chariots to do conflict just like the gods themselves. Zeus used to be infuriated. He knew whom in charge. He ordered Prometheus to be seized and sure to a mountaintop in a spot the place it usually snows and the wind howls without end. There the pal of guy used to be sentenced to spend eternity, chained to a crag, vultures soaring approximately him, tearing at his stomach and consuming his liver. He couldn't die simply because he used to be immortal, yet he may perhaps endure. And undergo he did via lengthy centuries for giving guy the present of fireplace. eventually, one other hero was once born courageous sufficient to defy the gods. He struck the chains from Prometheus and killed the vultures. yet that deed belongs to the tale of Heracles. Prosperina (proh SUR pih nuh): Roman identify for Persephone, daughter of Demeter, and Hades’ queen. See Persephone. Protesilaus (proh tehs ih LAY uhs): A king of Thessaly who sailed with 40 ships opposed to Troy. while the Greek ships have been drawn up at their moorings and the Trojan military used to be ranked at the seashore able to meet the invaders, the Greeks, it really is acknowledged, hesitated. nobody wanted to be the 1st to cost that hedge of spears. Protesilaus leaped from the deck of his send, shouting to his males to stick with, and was once the 1st Greek to set foot at the Trojan shore. His battle used to be a short one. He had no longer complex ten paces sooner than Hector got here charging out of the ranks and transfixed him along with his spear. Now, the spouse of Protesilaus, who was once named Laodamia, used to be inconsolable whilst she heard of her husband’s loss of life. She prayed to Hermes, who performed the useless to Hades, to come back and fetch her in order that she could subscribe to her husband. Hermes got here, was once struck with compassion, and made her an exceptional supply: He might carry her husband domestic from the Land of the colours for 3 hours every day in order that she may communicate with him!